"FOUR ON END."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 243, 14 October 1929, Page 8

"FOUR ON END."

INTOXICATED MOTORISTS. MR. HUNT HINTS AT GAOL. "A MONTH MIGHT DO THEM GOOD." "What, four on end!" said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning. The magistrate was not referring to the number of drinks consumed, but to four men arrested by the Newmarket police during the week-end 011 charges of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of motor vehicles. "If men wish to drive motor cars, they must not have any liquor at all," he said. '"Fines do not seem to have much effect. A month's imprisonment might do these fellows some good." Motor Driver Fined £25. Charles Stewart Bridge, motor driver, aged 22, and Stephen Cotton (24) kept each other company in the dock, each pleading guilty. Mr. Allan Moody appeared for both. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said Bridge was the owner and driver of the motor car. A constable saw him at 1.45 p.m. 011 Saturday, and arrested him. Cotton, who was with Bridge, walked away from the car, but later returned and attempted to start it. He told another constable that he was going to remove the car from the road to a garage. Mr. Moody said both men had taken a few gins, but neither was drunk enough to arrest had they been walking along the street. Bridge was a labourer living at Onehunga, and used the old car to drive to and from his employment at Penrose. On Saturday he was going to play in the Newmarket Band, but having been arrested he could not perform his musical functions. "Does your Worship hold that Cotton should be convicted?" asked Mr. Moody. "I think it would be stretching the iaw a little if he was convicted, for, after all, he did not drive the car. He merely wanted to remove it off the road. Even Bridge was not seated in the car at the time of his arrest." Mr. Hunt fined Br id' ; £25, in default one month's imprisonment, and cancelled his license for 12 months. He was allowed 14 days in which to pay the fine. Cotton, who did not have a driver's license, was convicted and discharged, the magistrate warning him to leave motor cars alone for a while.

"Unfortunate Accident."

"This was an unfortunate accident and it is really not a serious case," said Mr. Bryce Hart, who appeared for John Hugh McNaughton (22), a storcman, charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of his car in Parncll Road on Saturday. "Oh, I don't know about that," said Mr. Hunt. "Tho Blind Institute is in Paniell Road, you know." McNaughton admitted the charge. It was stated by Sub-Inspector McCarthy that McNaughton's car crossed in front of another car, a slight collision resulting. The driver of the other car, noticing accused's condition, followed him up. He was later arrested. Giving evidence, the driver of the other car said that after the collision, McNaughton backed his car out and drove Witness followed him for a mile and then telephoned for the police. McNaughton drove his own car to the Newmarket police station. According to witness he was under the influence of liquor. Mr. Hart said McNaughton had been in the employ of a big Auckland motor firm for ten years and drove cars in the course of his business. "He is a decent young man and I am concerned about his license," said counsel. "Well it's going, I can tell you that," replied the magistrate. Mr. Hart said if accused's license were cancelled such punishment would be disproportionate to the offence. This had been a lesson to McNaughton, who was willing to take out a prohibition order immediately. , "Prohibition orders are not much good," said Mr. Hunt. "He will be fined £25, or one month's imprisonment and his license is cancelled for six months. He can have 14 days to pay." "Not Intoxicated, but Drunk." Jack Whittaker (35), a farm hand, was the next to enter the dock. Represented by Mr. Lovegrove, Whittaker admitted being in a state of intoxication while v in charge of a motor cycle and side car in Remuera Road. "Your Worship knows I've little sympathy with motor cycles," said SubInspector McCarthy. "It's bad enough when men are sober on these things," rcitiarked Mr. Hunt. Mr. McCarthy said both the motor cycle and Whittaker were found on tlie middle of the train tracks. Wliittaker's life was in danger. He was "not intoxicated, but really drunk." Counsel stated that Whittaker went to Newmarket to see a friend and called at three hotels, where he had a "half handle" of beer at each. He tried to get his motor cycle to start by pushing and running alongside it. It was not a serious case. He was a married man with two young children and could not afford to pay a heavy line. He had spent the week-end in gaol and his mental anguish had been considerable. He was not a man given to drinkin<». Whittaker was fined £5, or °'one month in gaol, and his license was cancelled for six months.